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The Varsity Game

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The Varsity Game
Contested by
Oxford University Cambridge University
First Varsity Game 1921
Current champion Oxford University
Biggest Victory Oxford University, 2010 (117-64)
Trophy The Varsity Cup
Number of wins (since 1949)
Oxford University Cambridge University
55 20
Official website
thevarsitygame.org

The Varsity Game is an annual basketball fixture played between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge which dates back to 1921.[1][2] The first post-war Varsity Game was played on 11 June 1949 at RAF Halton and resulted in a 47-11 Oxford win. It has remained an annual event ever since.[1]

In the 1950s, The Varsity Game between Oxford and Cambridge was one of the highlights of the British basketball calendar. The game was of national interest and was held at the Empire Pool and Indoor Arena, Wembley. Uncommon for basketball in the United Kingdom, the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry basketball game received coverage from the national press.[3][4]

The Varsity Game holds a special reverence for the basketball teams at Oxford and Cambridge. Traditionally, it is the final game of the season for both teams and is the highlight of the basketball season.[2] In the 14 March 1966 edition of Sports Illustrated, NBA Hall-of-famer Bill Bradley said in reference to The Varsity Game: "'This game,' remarked Bradley, who flew back from playing with the Italian Simmenthal team in Milan the morning of the event, 'is the only one I care about.'"[5]










The Varsity Game Results

No. Date Venue Winner[6] Oxford Points[6] Cambridge Points[6] Margin of victory[6] Oxford total wins Cambridge total wins
1 25 March 1921†
1922–1949 no known games 		Muswell Hill 0
2 11 June 1949 RAF Halton Oxford 47 11 36 1 0
3 11 March 1950 Culham College Gymnasium Oxford 37 22 15 2 0
4 10 March 1951 London Oxford 31 23 8 3 0
5 21 May 1952 USAF Gymnasium, Upper Heyford Oxford 65 40 2 4 0
6 7 March 1953 Cambridge Corn Exchange Oxford 42 20 22 5 0
7 11 June 1954 RAF Upper Heyford Oxford 39 30 9 6 0
8 6 March 1955 USAF Arena RAF Upper Heyford Oxford 73 41 32 7 0
9 11 June 1956 RAF Lakenheath / USAF Mildenhall Cambridge 56 59 3 7 1
10 7 March 1957 Cowley Barracks Oxford 51 43 8 8 1
11 1958 Oxford 9 1
12 1959 Cambridge 34 36 2 9 2
13 1960 Cambridge 52 65 13 9 3
14 1961 High school gym near Cambridge Cambridge 42 44 2 9 4
15 1962 Cambridge 38 68 30 9 5
16 1963 Cambridge 39 45 6 9 6
17 29 February 1964 RAF Lakenheath Oxford 72 49 23 10 6
18 1965 Oxford 75 58 17 11 6
19 5 March 1966 Lakenheath American High School Oxford 76 64 8 12 6
20 4 March 1967 Iffley Road Sports Centre Oxford 71 59 12 13 6
21 9 March 1968 RAF Lakenheath Oxford 78 56 22 14 6
22 1 March 1969 Iffley Road Sports Centre Oxford 67 26 41 15 6
23 29 February 1970 USAF Lakenheath Oxford 79 40 39 16 6
24 27 February 1971 Iffley Road Sports Centre Oxford 88 40 48 17 6
25 1972 Oxford 101 60 41 18 6
26 3 March 1973 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 84 68 16 19 6
27 16 March 1974 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 48 39 20 6
28 8 March 1975 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
29 6 March 1976 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 92 59 33 22 6
30 5 March 1977 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
31 8 March 1978 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
32 8 March 1979 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
33 8 March 1980 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
34 8 March 1981 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
35 8 March 1982 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
36 8 March 1983 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
37 8 March 1984 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
38 8 March 1985 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
39 8 March 1986 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
40 8 March 1987 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 87 67 20 21 6
41 6 March 1988 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Oxford 92 59 33 22 6

† – Score and result of the first Varsity Game is unknown.

References

  1. ^ a b "West Point Association of Graduates". www.westpointaog.org. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Men's". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Basketball At Wembley". The Times. 31 May 1952.
  4. ^ "Basketball". The Times. 1 June 1953.
  5. ^ Lovesey, John (14 March 1966). "A Bit Too Much For Blighty". Sports Illustrated.
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference results was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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